Ask the Reform Rabbi: Interfaith Questions
Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser provides answers to questions about interfaith issues.
Can a convert to Judaism join in his family's secular celebration of Christmas?
A convert to Judaism asks Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser if he can continue to participate in your Christian parents' and family's secular celebration of Christmas.
A convert to Judaism asks Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser if he can continue to participate in your Christian parents' and family's secular celebration of Christmas.
Is it okay for American Jews to celebrate Halloween?
Is it okay for American Jews to celebrate Halloween? Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser of Congregation Beth Israel explains whether Jews should or should not celebrate Halloween.
Is it okay for American Jews to celebrate Halloween? Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser of Congregation Beth Israel explains whether Jews should or should not celebrate Halloween.
How should a Jew respond to a "Merry Christmas" greeting?
How should a Jew respond to a Merry Christmas greeting? Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser of Congregation Beth Israel explains how Jews should respond to "Merry Christmas" greetings.
How should a Jew respond to a Merry Christmas greeting? Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser of Congregation Beth Israel explains how Jews should respond to "Merry Christmas" greetings.
Can I convert to Judaism even though I believe in Jesus as the son of God?
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser is asked if someone who is married to a Jew and leads a Jewish life can convert to Judaism even though they believe in Jesus as the son of God.
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser is asked if someone who is married to a Jew and leads a Jewish life can convert to Judaism even though they believe in Jesus as the son of God.
How compatible is Buddhism with Judaism?
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser is asked how compatible Buddhism is with Judaism?
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser is asked how compatible Buddhism is with Judaism?
Our Jewish son wears a cross his Christian wife gave him. What can we do?
Jewish parents are hurt that their Jewish son is wearing a cross necklace given to him by his Christian wife. They ask Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser how to tell their son they feel hurt.
Jewish parents are hurt that their Jewish son is wearing a cross necklace given to him by his Christian wife. They ask Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser how to tell their son they feel hurt.
Advice for Jewish mother with daughter marrying wonderful non-Jewish man
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser gives advice to a Jewish mother with a daughter marrying a wonderful non-Jewish man.
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser gives advice to a Jewish mother with a daughter marrying a wonderful non-Jewish man.
Does Reform Judaism require conversion when only the father is Jewish?
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwassers is asked if Reform Judaism recommends conversion for children of non-Jewish mother and Jewish father.
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwassers is asked if Reform Judaism recommends conversion for children of non-Jewish mother and Jewish father.
Please advise an intermarried couple divorcing over religious differences.
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwassers writes to an intermarried couple (Jewish man, Catholic woman) that got divorced over religious differences.
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwassers writes to an intermarried couple (Jewish man, Catholic woman) that got divorced over religious differences.
Can some non-Jews - such as intermarried - be buried in Jewish cemeteries?
Would a Reform rabbi allow the burial of a non-Jew in a Jewish cemetery in some cases? An example would be a father who did not convert but who fully agreed to raise his children in the Jewish tradition and participates in the reform synagogue as a member. Would he be prevented from being buried in a Jewish cemetery?
Would a Reform rabbi allow the burial of a non-Jew in a Jewish cemetery in some cases? An example would be a father who did not convert but who fully agreed to raise his children in the Jewish tradition and participates in the reform synagogue as a member. Would he be prevented from being buried in a Jewish cemetery?
Must our adopted son be circumcized to convert to Judaism?
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser answers a question about converting an adopted son to Judaism. Must the child undergo Jewish ritual circumsion?
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser answers a question about converting an adopted son to Judaism. Must the child undergo Jewish ritual circumsion?
Can an Intermarried Jew become a Rabbi?
Can an Intermarried Jew become a Rabbi? Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser answers this question.
Can an Intermarried Jew become a Rabbi? Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser answers this question.
Can a Gentile Hang a Mezuza?
Reform Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasswer answers the question: Would it be disrespectful to Jews if I, a Gentile, hang a mezuzah outside my home?
Reform Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasswer answers the question: Would it be disrespectful to Jews if I, a Gentile, hang a mezuzah outside my home?
Ask the Reform Rabbi - Can a Jewish name be given to an uncircumcized child of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother?
Can a Jewish name be given to an uncircumcized child of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother?
Can a Jewish name be given to an uncircumcized child of a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother?
Ask the Reform Rabbi - Will a Reform Rabbi marry a Catholic and a Jew in a synagogue?
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser responds to a question about whether a Reform Rabbi will perform at a wedding of a Jew and a Catholic in a synagogue?
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser responds to a question about whether a Reform Rabbi will perform at a wedding of a Jew and a Catholic in a synagogue?
Ask the Reform Rabbi - Will a Jew who marries a Muslim go to hell?
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser answers a question about whether a Jew who marries a Muslim will go to hell?
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser answers a question about whether a Jew who marries a Muslim will go to hell?
Ask the Reform Rabbi - Removal of Shoes in Judaism
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser answers a question about whether Jews, in contrast to Chinese culture, only remove shoes in a home when someone has died.
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser answers a question about whether Jews, in contrast to Chinese culture, only remove shoes in a home when someone has died.
Ask the Reform Rabbi - Christians Adopting a Jewish Child
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser answers a question about how Christians adopting a Jewish child should deal with her Jewish education and identity?
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser answers a question about how Christians adopting a Jewish child should deal with her Jewish education and identity?
Will my son be considered Jewish if he isn't circumcised?
Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser answers the question of whether someone's son will be considered Jewish if she does not get him circumcised.
Reform Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser answers the question of whether someone's son will be considered Jewish if she does not get him circumcised.
Does a Christian baptism nullify one's Jewish identity?
According to Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser, Christian baptism has no status in Jewish law or observance.
According to Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser, Christian baptism has no status in Jewish law or observance.
Can in interfaith couple baptize and have a bris for their son?
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser answers a question about baptizing a Jewish baby, the child of an interfaith marriage.
Reform Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser answers a question about baptizing a Jewish baby, the child of an interfaith marriage.
How can an interfaith family honor theirJewish cultural heritage?
An interfaith couple, who plans to raise their child as a Christain, asks Reform Rabbi Goldwasswer about ways to honor the baby's cultural Jewish heritage.
An interfaith couple, who plans to raise their child as a Christain, asks Reform Rabbi Goldwasswer about ways to honor the baby's cultural Jewish heritage.